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OQO Model 01 review

The OQO is loaded with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and can be turned into a fully fledged desktop PC

from £1,535.00

21 September 2006/6:00BST

Hello there, sir, you look like a man who’s made of money. What’s that? Mere flesh and bones? I see, well let’s see if we can’t tempt you anyway.

First off, forget palmtops, this is full-blown, rolling green hills, Minesweeper and Hearts-loaded Windows XP. If you can do it on a PC, you can do it here. OK, we’re not talking full frame rate Quake III Arena but, for gentle office type stuff, this’ll do nicely.

It’s loaded with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so communicating back to base is a case of hooking up a mobile or finding a hot spot. There’s no phone on board but download Skype, plug in a pair of headphones, turn on the built-in mic and you’re laughing (perhaps hysterically by this point).

Meanwhile, back at your desk, IT might be wondering who’s nicked off with your PC and left a keyboard, monitor and strange cable behind. The mystery is solved as you nonchalantly plug in your OQO, turning it into a fully fledged desktop PC – secretaries will swoon.

So, is it the ultimate dream palmtop? Well, no actually. As staggering as the engineering is, it just isn’t that practical. Take the high-res screen: better than any other here but hopelessly outgunned when asked to cope with apps designed for full-size monitors.

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All that and it uses a processor that makes a £400 Dell lappy seem like a Ferrari. And, since it comes with a stylus, why doesn’t it use Windows XP Tablet PC edition? We demand answers!

Stuff says...

OQO Model 01 review

We thought overkill could only be good. Strictly for those who absolutely must have XP on the move but can’t lug an ultra-portable lappy